Before They Are Hanged

Superior Glokta has a problem. How do you defend a city surrounded by enemies and riddled with traitors, when your allies can by no means be trusted, and your predecessor vanished without a trace? It’s enough to make a torturer want to run – if he could even walk without a stick.

Northmen have spilled over the border of Angland and are spreading fire and death across the frozen country. Crown Prince Ladisla is poised to drive them back and win undying glory. There is only one problem – he commands the worst-armed, worst-trained, worst-led army in the world.

And Bayaz, the First of the Magi, is leading a party of bold adventurers on a perilous mission through the ruins of the past. The most hated woman in the South, the most feared man in the North, and the most selfish boy in the Union make a strange alliance, but a deadly one. They might even stand a chance of saving mankind from the Eaters. If they didn’t hate each other quite so much.

Ancient secrets will be uncovered. Bloody battles will be won and lost. Bitter enemies will be forgiven – but not before they are hanged.

I finally finished book two in the First Law trilogy! It’s not because it was a slow read; it’s because I’ve been lazy with my reading. 😦

Finally the action is rolling too! I liked “The Blade Itself”, but I loved this one! Where sometimes during “The Blade Itself” I felt like “Ok let’s see what Abercombie is doing here to set the stage”, in this novel the stage is set, we know what’s going on, and we are going to get some much deserved action. The best part is the action doesn’t stop! We got Glokta back in his area of expertise with the intrigue, the mystery, the leadership, the back pain, the gum sucking, and the violence! We got Jezal getting hit in the face and growing up! We got Bayaz being grumpy and giving us world building. We got West stepping up into the ring! We got Logen and Ferro with their ferocity (Maybe I should save that word for West), and maybe some awkward romance brewing… We got our named men, and everyone else not mentioned, that are still being interesting!

We get to feel every emotion through the course of this story, and I really feel like the characters and the plot begin to progress throughout book two. We get to see a lot of changes that, in retrospect, book one did a really good job of setting us up for. I felt more attached as a whole to what Joe Abercrombie was writing. This series is really shaping up to be a favorite of mine. The dark/gritty fantasy is nice to read compared to all of the other fantasy that is being churned out. (Not that I don’t like it – I just like this better)

I can only hope that the last book in the trilogy keeps up and delivers. I am excited to start reading it and hopefully I find the time to read it as quick as I want to.

“Anyone can face ease and success with confidence. It is the way we face trouble and misfortune that defines us.”

Love this trilogy and this book is probably my favourite one. Mostly for Glokta and his story in defending a city. But also the travelling band of misfits, Bayaz, Ferro, Logen and Jezal.
Evem West and the northerners were awesome, not one weak link in this book. Where as i found The blade itself to have some dull moments and all build up.
The final book is also great but maybe nit as great as this one. Not disappointing, but maybe unable to improve in this one. 😉
I need to read the other books in this world now

Sorry this totally off topic, but I just read your ‘About’ page (intending to leave a note to say thanks for visiting my blog) and have to say well done on being crystal clear on what to expect. I wish I could be this focused. When I finish a book I tend to want to just jump into the next one and as a result my ‘reviews’ on couchmagpie.com are pretty terrible most of the time. However, I will read any book to the end no matter how awful – because you learn how not to write badly by doing so. That said I did recently read about ten pages of “Bullseye” by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge and then bin it off. There’s bad and there’s tripe…

I’m with Yoli – nice book review. Very detailed! And I have a question for you. If someone follows you, how are you able to click on their blog? Example, you followed me on http://www.happilytickedoff.com. Thank you! I see you listed with 55 other people. But I couldn’t just “click” and find you. I had to google you. Is there an easier way? I’d love to start reading more of the people who are reading me. You know, the whole “let’s not be a narcissist and get our head out of the sand” things we do as we adult. Andrea. Again, nice review!